Federal grant will enable centers to better serve a growing, diverse older adult population

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Maurisa Potts
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Arlington, VA (October 27, 2021) — The National Council on Aging (NCOA), the national voice for every person’s right to age well, has been awarded a cooperative agreement from the U.S. Administration for Community Living to operate a new Modernizing Senior Centers Resource Center. 

Recognized by the Older Americans Act as a community focal point, senior centers have become one of the most widely used services among America’s older adults. Today, almost 10,000 senior centers enable 1 million individuals to stay healthy and independent by providing meals, health programs, transportation, benefits counseling, employment, and more. 

During the pandemic, senior centers became lifelines for homebound older adults by offering home-delivered meals, telephone checks, and virtual programs. As the COVID-19 vaccine became available, they again stepped up to serve as vaccination sites and hubs of trusted information about how to stay safe.

“As the nation’s older population continues to grow and become more diverse, senior centers will play an even more critical role in ensuring that every person can age well,” said NCOA President and CEO Ramsey Alwin. “Research shows that senior center participants have higher levels of health, social interaction, and life satisfaction. This grant will support senior centers as they transform their services to meet the changing needs of older adults.” 

Under the three-year $750,000 grant, NCOA will:

• Provide leadership to senior center and aging network professionals to support the modernization of senior centers.
• Provide training, consultation, and technical assistance to senior centers around effective strategies for increasing and maintaining successful programming that meets the diverse needs of older adult participants.
• Serve as a clearinghouse for innovative programs and strategies that can be successfully replicated in the community.

“NCOA has a long history of supporting senior centers, starting in 1970 when we founded the National Institute of Senior Centers to promote best practices in the field,” Alwin said. “We’re grateful that this grant will take that work to the next level. Our goal is to empower senior centers to reach more older adults, remain fiscally strong, and work closely with other providers to deliver health and economic security improvements for seniors.”

About NCOA
The National Council on Aging (NCOA) is the national voice for every person’s right to age well. We believe that how we age should not be determined by gender, color, sexuality, income, or zip code. Working with thousands of national and local partners, we provide resources, tools, best practices, and advocacy to ensure every person can age with health and financial security. Founded in 1950, we are the oldest national organization focused on older adults. Follow us at @NCOAging.